When you search Google for a program to download or a website to log into, what do you usually click?
Probably one of the first results.
That’s exactly what cybercriminals are counting on.
The results at the top of Google are often ads. They’re marked “Sponsored,” but because they’re sitting above everything else, it’s easy to assume Google has put the official website first.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Scammers can buy ads using the names of trusted companies and popular software. Their fake website may appear above the real one, making it easy to click the wrong link without giving it a second thought.
How Scammers Get to the Top of Google
This type of attack is called malvertising, short for malicious advertising.
A scammer buys a search ad targeting something people already trust. It could be the name of your bank, a Microsoft 365 login, or a common program such as a PDF reader or video player.
The ad may look completely normal. It can use the real company’s name, logo, and wording, along with a web address that looks legitimate at first glance.
Click the ad, however, and you may end up on a fake website designed to look like the real one.
Sometimes the site asks you to log in. You enter your username and password, and that information goes directly to the scammer.
Other times, the site offers the software you were searching for. You click download, thinking you’re installing the legitimate program, but you install malware instead.
Either way, a normal Google search can quickly become a cybersecurity problem.
Why We Trust the First Result
Most employees have learned to be suspicious of unexpected emails and strange text messages. But a Google search feels different.
You started the search yourself.
You’re looking for something you recognize, the result appears at the top of Google, and it uses the name of a company you trust. Nothing about the situation immediately feels suspicious.
That’s what makes these attacks so effective.
Cybercriminals have also found ways to hide malicious websites from the systems designed to catch them. For example, an ad reviewer may see a harmless version of a website, while regular visitors are redirected to the malicious version.
That can allow a dangerous ad to slip through the approval process and appear in legitimate search results.
This Isn’t a Rare Scam
Malicious advertising is a much bigger problem than most people realize.
In its 2025 Ads Safety Report, Google said it blocked or removed more than 8.3 billion ads that violated its policies. It also suspended 24.9 million advertiser accounts and removed 602 million ads associated with scams.
Google also noted that criminals are using AI to create deceptive ads faster and at a much larger scale.
Security researchers have found malicious search ads impersonating well-known programs such as VLC, 7-Zip, and CCleaner. Some fake downloads have been used to install malware designed to steal sensitive information.
These aren’t searches taking place in some dark corner of the internet.
They’re the same everyday Google searches your employees may be making at work.
One Click Can Become a Business Problem
For an Albuquerque business, the risk often comes from two very ordinary activities: downloading software and logging into accounts.
Imagine an employee needs a PDF tool.
They search Google, click the first result, download the program, and get back to work. Except the program isn’t what they thought it was.
If malware is installed, it may attempt to steal passwords, browser cookies, and other information stored on that computer. That could put email, cloud applications, customer information, and other business accounts at risk.
The same thing can happen when an employee simply needs to log in.
They search for “Microsoft 365 login,” their bank, payroll provider, or another business application. They click a sponsored result that looks legitimate and enter their username and password into a fake login page.
The employee didn’t ignore an obvious warning or do something reckless.
They simply followed a habit most of us have developed over years of using Google:
Click the first result.
A Few Simple Habits Can Reduce the Risk
You don’t need to stop employees from using Google. You just need to help them develop a few safer habits.
Scroll past sponsored results. Look for the “Sponsored” label at the top of the page. When you’re downloading software or accessing an important account, don’t automatically trust the first result.
Download software from the official website. Go directly to the software company’s website whenever possible. Don’t download a program simply because an ad says it’s the official version.
Bookmark important login pages. Employees shouldn’t need to search Google every time they access Microsoft 365, their bank, payroll system, or another important business application. Bookmark the legitimate sites and use those links instead.
Keep devices and browsers updated. Turn on automatic updates so your devices and browsers have the latest security fixes.
Check the web address. A fake website can look almost identical to the real one. Before entering a password or downloading anything, take a few seconds to make sure you’re actually on the company’s official website.
Limit who can install software. Employees who don’t need to install programs shouldn’t necessarily have permission to do so. That gives your business another layer of protection if someone accidentally downloads something malicious.
Tell your employees this scam exists. This may be the most important step. Most people simply don’t realize that a sponsored Google result can lead to a malicious website. Once they know, they’re much more likely to stop and look before clicking.
Think Before You Click
Cybercriminals don’t always need a sophisticated attack to get into a business.
Sometimes they just need to take advantage of something your employees do every day without thinking about it.
Search. Click. Download. Log in.
That’s why cybersecurity isn’t only about having the right security tools. It’s also about helping employees recognize the small, everyday situations that attackers have learned to exploit.
The next time you or one of your employees searches Google for software or a login page, take a few extra seconds before clicking that first result.
It could prevent a simple search from becoming a much bigger problem.
Could a Simple Click Put Your Business at Risk?
At Haider Consulting, we help Albuquerque businesses identify cybersecurity risks before attackers have the opportunity to take advantage of them.
👉 Schedule your FREE Discovery Call or give us a call at 505-821-6070 to find out where your business may be more exposed than you realize.
Book My 17-Minute CallBecause sometimes the most convincing scams are the ones that don’t look like scams at all.
